When a woman becomes pregnant the timing of the pregnancy is commenced from the last period BEFORE concept. So when a woman misses her first period, two weeks after conception, she is said to be 4 weeks pregnant.
I hope this note helps readers be aware of the passage of time in this chapter.
SHATTERED DREAMS - PART FOUR
Nearly four weeks had passed since Janey had told her mother that she was pregnant. One of the first things her father had insisted was that she attend counselling. He insisted that she needed to take care of her own well-being so she would be able to look after her child. He said that they would help her in any way she needed but as it was her child it was her responsibility first.
Janey had not told her brothers and sister about her pregnancy since she wasn't quite ready to face their reactions. She wasn't aware that Robby had overheard her speaking to one of the female officers about her pregnancy.
Janey was now close to twelve weeks pregnant and starting to show slightly. She had regained the weight she had lost during her abduction as well as filling out slightly in the bust. The only evidence of her pregnancy was a slight roundness low in her stomach just above her pelvis. So far she had not suffered with any morning sickness but she did dislike the smell of coffee while she was eating.
After her second counselling session she had her long hair cut short in an attractive feathered style that framed her face. She felt the need to remove the attraction of her long blonde hair. She had hoped to loose the sexy blonde look but her haircut only succeeded in transforming her from a sexy young blonde girl to a sophisticated young woman. While Janey wasn't completely satisfied with the result she soon decided she liked her new look.
Twice in the four weeks Adam came to Byron Bay for the day on a weekend claiming he had decided to visit the beach and each time he had dropped in to see the Wilkinsons. It soon became clear that he was really dropping in to see Janey and although she was quite shy and hesitant the first visit she had definitely warmed to him on his second visit.
When Robby rang and told their parents about a counselling week being held for victims of rape he convinced his father that it would be a good idea for Janey to attend the five days of counselling sessions as she would be coming into contact with other women who had been through similar ordeals to what she had endured. The only problem was that it was being held in Brisbane which made it a four hour round trip each day for Janey to go. So Robby offered for her to stay at his flat for the week and he would drive her back to their parents place at the end of the week.
Janey had been loath to go to the counselling sessions but her father had informed her that if she wished to keep her child then she owed it to herself and the baby to seek help in dealing with the aftermath of her ordeal. With very little choice in the matter because she still found it impossible to utter the word 'no' Janey resigned herself to going to the week long session, hoping that afterwards she would be more prepared to talk to her brothers and sister about their coming niece or nephew.
So on Sunday afternoon Jim and Marina drove to Brisbane with Janey planning to visit with Marina's cousin overnight and return the next day leaving Janey with Robby for the week. The drive was slow and cold due to a winter storm and Janey was relieved when the car stopped in front of the block of flats where her brother lived. She climbed out of the car pulling her two bags out behind her and stood on the sidewalk looking at the two rows of flats facing each other.
"Come on, let's get inside out of the cold." Jim said as he picked up Janey's bags.
Janey followed her parents as they headed up along one row of flats until they came to a door with a number 5 on it. She watched as her father knocked loudly and waited for a reply.
"I see you made it." Robby said as he opened his front door. He reached out and took his sister's bags from their father and led the way into the flat. He led the way to one of the bedrooms at the back of the flat and pushed the door open. He placed the bags on the end of the double bed in the room.
Janey glanced around the room noting that the bed was not made but sheets, blankets and doona sat on the bed.
"I meant to have the room ready but I got stuck down town at the Laundromat when I took the washing down to put through the dryer." Robby said.
"I can help Janey make the bed. It won't take a minute." Marina said as she walked over to the bed and placed the bags on the floor and out of the way.
Janey moved into the room to help her mother. Within minutes they had the bed made and had found a pillow on a chair by the window.
"There, that's better." Marina remarked as she smoothed a corner of the bed. "You'll be lost in this big bed." She smiled at Janey as she said it.
Janey looked away from the bed. The size of it reminded her of while she was with Hawk. It was strange how that happened she realised; sometimes it was the oddest thing that triggered the memories. Determined to escape the memories she feared would come, she hurried from the room only stopping when she reached the small kitchenette.
"Are you alright?" Marina asked with a worried frown as she followed Janey away from the bedroom.
Janey turned around and glanced back towards the bedroom as she opened her mouth to explain to her mother but she turned away once again as she saw her brother and father walking towards them.
"I'm just fine." Janey mumbled as she turned her attention to getting herself a glass of water from the sink tap. She took a sip of water and wrinkled her nose in disgust at the taste of the city's treated water.
"Don't like the water?" Robby asked as he saw her toss the rest of her drink into the sink.
"It's gross!" Janey said as she turned around to face the others, her face composed once again.
"I have a water filter-cooler in the laundry and keep the filtered water in a jug in the fridge." Robby told his sister as he opened the small fridge and motioned towards a jug of water.
Janey nodded without saying a word.
"We must really be going if we want to make it to Sandra's place in time to get ready to go out for tea." Marina said when she realised that Janey wasn't going to continue with what she had been about to say.
"Yes, we had better keep going." Jim said.
Janey gave her mother a hug and a kiss on the cheek goodbye.
"Take care of yourself." Marina said as she hugged her daughter in return.
Janey gave her a faint smile before turning to her father and being given a large hug.
"You make sure you take care of yourself, " He said to Janey before turning to Robby, " You look after your sister while she's here." Jim told his son sternly.
"Yes sir." Robby acknowledged the order.
Janey walked with her parents and Robby to the door and then waited in the doorway out of the light misting rain as her brother walked their parents to the car. She waved as they drove away then waited as Robby walked back to the flat quickly.
"Brrr, it's damp out there!" Robby said as he walked into the flat and shut the door behind him. He reached for a towel he had hanging in the entrance way and briskly dried the light drops of rain from his short hair.
"So what's new?" Robby asked as he led the way to the small living combined dining room where a lounge face a TV and a small dining table sat against a wall.
Janey sent him a quick sharp look. Robby ever the cop never asked idle questions.
When no answer came from Janey Robby looked her way to find her watching him suspiciously.
"What's this about?" Janey asked suspiciously.
"I'm your brother. Can't I care enough to ask to find out how you're coping now you're home?" Robby asked gently.
That was the difference between her two brothers Janey knew. James waited for her to feel ready to talk if he knew something was wrong but Robby started poking and prying, edging the words out of her even before she knew she was ready to talk.
Robby watched as Janey's expression clouded over then became hard to read as she turned her face away from him.
"What is it you want to know?" Janey finally asked between gritted teeth.
"Sit down on the lounge and make yourself comfortable." Robby invited as he got one of the chairs from the dining table and bought it over to place it facing the lounge.
Janey sat down watching her brother guardedly.
"I'll come right to the point, no side-tracking around the issue," Robby said as he settled himself on the chair. "When you were talking to the female officer I couldn't help overhearing something you said to her. You said that you had found out you were pregnant." Robby paused for a moment as he noticed Janey's eyes narrow.
Janey sat on the edge of the lounge watching her brother silently.
"I can help you contact a clinic to get an abortion done before heading home. You don't have to have the constant reminder of what happened to you." Robby said gently. He watched his sister; she had lowered her head and wrapped her arms around herself.
Outrage boiled in Janey's mind as she slowly raised her head to look at Robby. Just knowing that he considered abortion an option for her made her anger continue to grow. She didn't dare say a word for fear she would start yelling at him.
"I know finding out you're pregnant must have been very scary, but you do have choices. You don't have to have the baby, or if you don't want to have an abortion you can always put the baby up for adoption." Robby said softly as he reached out to take her hand thinking that she was overwhelmed by her pregnancy.
"Leave me alone! Don't touch me!" Janey snapped as she jerked her hand away from him and got to her feet to pace restlessly. After a minute or so she stopped and turned to face her brother.
"It's alright Janey." Robby soothed softly.
"Alright?" Janey demanded angrily "You want to take me to have an abortion and kill my baby! And you say it's alright!"
"Janey..." Robby tried to talk to her.
"Shut up! I don't want to hear it! This baby is just as much an innocent victim as I am in this! It did not ask to be forced onto me by rape! And if you are going to go on about abortion or adoption then I will not let you near this child!" Janey said angrily, her voice rising slightly.
